Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserves 2007–2017 Management Plan No 55
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Management Plan for the Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserves 2007–2017 Management Plan No 55 MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MONTEBELLO/BARROW ISLANDS MARINE CONSERVATION RESERVES 2007-2017 Management Plan No. 55 including the Montebello Islands Marine Park, Barrow Island Marine Park and Barrow Island Marine Management Area. VISION To conserve the marine flora and fauna, habitats and water quality of the Montebello/Barrow islands area. The area will support commercial and recreational activities which are compatible with the maintenance of environmental quality and be valued as an important ecological, economic and social asset by the community. Prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation Cover photographs courtesy of Col Roberts/Lochman Transparencies (insert 1), Peter & Margy Nicholas/Lochman Transparencies (insert 2), and Department of Environment and Conservation (insert 3). Department of Environment and Conservation ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Advisory Committee for the Proposed Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserve committed considerable time and effort in discussions and meetings that provided the basis of this management plan. The advisory committee greatly assisted the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority (MPRA) and the former Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) in developing the proposal and their efforts are acknowledged. Members of the committee were Norm Halse (Chair), John Baas, John Jenkin, Russell Lagdon, Guy Leyland, Vicki Long, Noel Parkin, Kelly Pendoley, Iva Stejskal and Craig Thomas. Many groups and individuals provided valuable input to the advisory committee, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the MPRA through Sector Reference Groups, individual submissions and out-of- session discussions. In particular, representatives from the hydrocarbon companies, pearling industry, charter boat industry, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Ltd., Pearl Producers Association and Recfishwest provided valuable information and constructive input. A number of DEC’s Marine Policy and Planning Branch staff were involved in preparation of the plan including Andrew Hill and John Lloyd (Project Coordinators), Liesl Jonker, Judy Davidson and Dr Fran Stanley (Plan Coordinators), Dr Chris Simpson and Mark Sheridan. Dr Sue Osborne and Kevin Bancroft provided valuable assistance in the initial community consultation and resource assessment. Other staff from DEC’s Pilbara Region and the former Marine Conservation Branch also provided a range of support and advice during the planning process. Staff from the Department of Industry and Resources and the Department of Fisheries provided information and guidance in respect to their areas of responsibility. In particular, the input of Bill Carr, Graham Cobby, Eve Bunbury, Robin Clark and Neil Sumner in developing the plan is acknowledged. Other observers who attended meetings and provided input into the planning process are also acknowledged. i Management Plan for the Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserves 2007-2017 Department of Environment and Conservation TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................... v 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 2 MANAGEMENT CONTEXT ..................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 STATE POLICY CONTEXT ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK...................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT............................................................................................. 3 2.4 RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORITIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES......................................................... 3 3 MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................. 5 3.1 ‘BEST PRACTICE’ MANAGEMENT MODEL................................................................................................ 5 3.2 DETERMINING MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES ............................................................................................... 6 4 REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE...................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 BIOREGIONAL SETTING............................................................................................................................ 7 4.2 GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY........................................................................................................... 7 4.3 CLIMATE.................................................................................................................................................. 7 4.4 OCEANOGRAPHY...................................................................................................................................... 7 4.5 ECOLOGY................................................................................................................................................. 8 4.6 SOCIAL CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................... 8 4.7 ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL VALUES ....................................................................................................... 10 5 DEFINITION OF THE AREA AND RESERVE TENURE................................................................... 11 6 VISION AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES............................................................................................ 17 6.1 VISION ................................................................................................................................................... 17 6.2 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................... 17 7 GENERIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................... 18 7.1 DEVELOPMENT OF A MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................ 18 7.1.1 Development of a zoning scheme .................................................................................................. 19 7.1.2 Zones in the Montebello Islands Marine Park .............................................................................. 29 7.1.3 Zones in the Barrow Island Marine Park...................................................................................... 31 3 7.1.4 Zones in the Barrow Island Marine Management Area ............................................................... 31 7.1.5 Limitations of the zoning scheme .................................................................................................. 31 7.2 EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION........................................................................................................ 32 7.3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.......................................................................................................................... 32 7.4 PATROL AND ENFORCEMENT ................................................................................................................. 33 7.5 MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION & VISITOR INFRASTRUCTURE................................................................ 33 7.6 RESEARCH ............................................................................................................................................. 34 7.7 MONITORING ......................................................................................................................................... 35 8 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WITHIN THE RESERVES .............................................................. 36 9 ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL VALUES................................................................................................ 37 9.1 ECOLOGICAL VALUES............................................................................................................................ 37 9.1.1 Geomorphology............................................................................................................................. 37 ii Management Plan for the Montebello/Barrow Islands Marine Conservation Reserves 2007-2017 Department of Environment and Conservation 9.1.2 Sediment quality............................................................................................................................ 39 9.1.3 Water quality (KPI)......................................................................................................................